Bridging the gap between the UK and Ghana — Professor Paws walks a balance beam that sees him equalise his African and European lineage and frame it in music form. Drawing power from his cultural dyad, Professor Paws’ music resides somewhere between melody-driven R&B sound pools, sharp and crunchy electro-rap beats, and ice cold Afrobeat cues.
With well over 100,000 streams on the OG track, the Amapiano remix of ‘Bruk Up’ sees things amped up to 11. The new rendition leans into rich West African production tropes with its mystical saxophone and horn elements. Breathing new life into the already fire track — you’d be forgiven for thinking the Amapiano mix was an entirely new track. With an infectious honeypot of rhythm hitting listeners from all angles, Paws demonstrates why he’s one to watch.
Turning up the heat again this summer, GRAMMY® Award-winning Atlanta hip-hop titan Future just uncovered the music video for “HOLY GHOST.” Watch it HERE. It remains yet another standout from his gold-certified chart-dominating blockbuster #1 album, I NEVER LIKED YOU—available HERE.
In the visual, Future pulls up to Cuban neighborhood in Miami. He raps to the camera with a laidback intensity as a family wearing ankle monitors looks on at him. Once again, he delivers a cinematic clip worthy of a long history of unforgettable visuals. With over 9.9 million Spotify streams on the track, the arrival of the video satiates a widespread demand from fans for more off I NEVER LIKED YOU.
In other big news, the platinum-certified Billboard Hot 100 #1 smash “WAIT FOR U” [feat. Drake & Tems] just vaulted to #1 at Rhythmic Radio nationwide as the 3rd greatest gainer this week.
It’s just the beginning though. Expect more from Future soon…
SG5, the first ever music group officially in collaboration with one of Japan’s most renown IPs, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, announce their U.S. debut via Rolling Stone. Co-managed by one of Japan’s largest entertainment companies LDH Japan Inc., and global management powerhouse Three Six Zero, the group has enlisted Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer BloodPop®, who will serve as Executive Producer and co-Creative Director. SG5 consists of 5 members: SAYAKA, RURI, RUI, MIYUU, and KAEDE
In their first international interview with Rolling Stone, MIYUU elaborated on SG5’s debut and overall goals; “Being able to collaborate with Sailor Moon is such an honor and a dream come true. I have experienced a lot as an artist in Japan, but the environment surrounding SG5 is like no other, so I’m very motivated. I hope we can show the beauty of Japanese culture through our entertainment.”
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Lively alt/indie-pop trio The Happy Fits are on a roll, taking the world by storm, and showing no signs of slowing down. Finally, today, they announce their highly-anticipated third studio album, Under The Shade of Green, available for pre-order now, along with a heavier track, “Do Your Worst” and its accompanying pineapple-filled video.
After an overwhelming turnout at Napa’s BottleRock Festival, The Happy Fits will head to Milwaukee for Summerfest before trotting across the pond to Europe and the UK this fall. The Happy Fits will hit Glasgow, UK on October 17th, Manchester and London the following two days and finish in Berlin on October 22nd. The Happy Fits are quickly gaining traction with over 1.75M monthly listeners on Spotify, 25.6K YouTube subscribers and 9.7M YouTube views. Their 2021 What Could Be Better Tour saw 20+ sold out dates from LA to NYC.
Shortly after, the trio will kick off a lengthy full-length tour through November and half of December stretching from the East, to West, and Southern U.S. Beginning in Burlington, VT on November 8th, the band will head through the Midwest, then across the West including three dates in California, and South including three dates in Texas, before concluding in Philadelphia, PA on December 18. Find a full list of dates below, with tickets on sale now via thehappyfits.com/tour.
The third studio album, Under The Shade of Green, is a moment of processing the last two years for each of the three band members, and invites listeners to join them. In typical Happy Fits fashion, however, the band blends serious subject matter with inescapable hooks and melodies, beaming instrumentation and unparalleled charm.
More than ever, the last two years have exposed colossal systemic failures throughout the world and Calvin Langman (lead vocals/electric cellist) says the album created space to better understand his role within it. “This album is how I’ve been processing the trauma of the past two years, from the pandemic, to climate change, to the rise of fascism, to BLM, to finding my place in this broken world. As there aren’t many who are left unshaken, I hope everyone can find something dark in here to relate to.”
Brooklyn based artist Elliot Lee fuses dark pop melodies with edgy vocals and innovative electronic rock soundscapes to create an unpredictable sound, acting as a voice for the voiceless. Elliot Lee holds an awareness of what music that is unhindered by norms can do for the underrepresented. This bravado oozes through the cracks of their homemade music, with tracks that are laced with late night slumber party confessions and existential cognizance. Inspired by the feeling of loneliness, Elliot’s music acts as a reminder that you are never alone.
Celebrating the release with a packed-out launch party in London, “Changed” hears the duo coming together to bring the heat on a track demonstrating the best of contemporary UK rap; the dynamic pair bounce relentless bars back and forth, whilst managing to link up styles for an effortlessly catchy collab.
With JBee’s breakout single “4am” now climbing to over 40M streams on Spotify and spending 7 weeks and counting on the official UK Singles Chart, the North Londoner’s hype has earnt fans including Kidwild and genre heavyweight ARZ. Meanwhile, despite only a handful of releases, Bolton newcomer Crystal Millzis already making waves to gain all the right attention; her sharp talent for freestyling earning major acclaim from top UK tastemakers and her influential fashion sense seeing her become the first brand ambassador for trend-setting outlet The Couture Club.
CAESAR SPENCER announces the Autumn release of his new album: ‘Get Out Into Yourself’. Primed for release on the 4th November 2022 (via New Radio Records), it will present 11 tracks of cinematic baroque-pop and classical songwriting imbued with a warm feeling of familiarity while also defying easy categorisation.
In anticipation of the release, Caesar is pleased to present its lead single: “Waiting for Sorrow” with an official video, which is available to view now here:
WATCH VIDEO HERE || STREAM ON ALL SERVICES HERE
With its lush production and a loquacious lyrical style laid-down by Caesar’s rich, earthy baritone, “Waiting for Sorrow” is a swelling and heartfelt tribute to the acclaimed Irish playwright Samuel Beckett (“Waiting for Godot”) who, like Caesar Spencer, was also a Paris resident for much of his adult life. As in the play, “Waiting for Sorrow” explores the symbiotic (or even solipsistic) nature of relationships. This is a key concept which is further developed throughout the rest of the album.
Singer-Songwriter, Producer & Advocate MILCK has teamed up with BIIANCO, Autumn Rose and Ani DiFranco for an urgent new protest song “We Won’t Go Back,” which was originally shared on Friday of last week on YouTube only, as an immediate response to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The song is now available on all streaming platforms. Fifty percent of the song’s proceeds will be donated to Planned Parenthood and Yellow Hammer Fund.
The story of “We Won’t Go Back” began in DC the day after the Politico leak regarding the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade, which would eliminate the constitutional right to abortion. MILCK participated in a rally where hundreds of people gathered in protest and the cathartic, powerful chant “We won’t go back!” became the resounding anthem.
Taking influence from her love of renowned bands Rage Against The Machine, Paramore, System of a Down and The Pretty Reckless, BEX has the hairs on your arm rising with her distinctive brand of angsty punk-rock.
Starting out as a bedroom project in the summer of 2020, BEX decided to take her love for rock music that inch a bit further by picking up a bass and playing covers of her favourite riffs on Instagram. Starting off with a mere 2,000 followers at the beginning of the year to a skyrocketing 35,000 by the summer, it’s fair to say BEX has an impeccable vision and is on her way to an ascending journey through the music industry.
Her last single “Tiptoe” – saw coverage across digital platforms Fred Perry Subculture, Cactus, FemMetal. Amongst radio plays across ERB ‘The Hot Rock Show,’ BBC Radio 1′s, Nels Hylton Future Alternative show, and Frankie Francis’s set on Amazing Radio.
The self-produced slice of bedroom-pop-folk serves as a gorgeous moment of escapism. Dreamy vocals and reflective songwriting transport you to the land of ‘what if’. Sharing a little more Cj explained: I wonder is a song about getting lost in the daydream of the melancholy of something that’s out of reach or doesn’t exist anymore.
Premiering on BBC Introducing as the chillout track of the week, I Wonder What You’re Up to Now is the follow up to Cj Pandits sophomore EP +44 which came out at the end of last month. The four track body-of-work depicts freedom, reliance, change, self confidence, guilt and what it means to push your boundaries creatively. Each track on the record makes its own mark, culminating in a dynamic, genre-bending record that is here to occupy a space all of its own. Listen to the record in full HERE.
In the wake of a long and winding pandemic, Leicester’s Cj Pandit has been making every moment count. From scooping tips from the likes of NME and Rough Trade, to nailing a sold out show and racking up over a million streams on his debut EP, he’s on the ball.
Now midway through 2022, he’s got a string of new, dynamic singles out in the wild culminating in his incredible sophomore EP. He’s caught the ear of many tastemakers along the way including the likes of Clash, EQUATE, Metal mag, Wonderland and Record of The Day. Plus Radio 1 has supported 1, 2 Free, If It Hurts, It’s Healing and Boyfriend, the latter which Jack Saunders described as ‘So funky it sounds like it’s been played under water’.
Embracing his curiosity and love of experimentation, Cj Pandit has been nurturing his growing fan base with his ever-evolving sound.
Inherently driven by the same escapist spirit as Bruce Springsteen, the curiosity of Talk Talk, and the lingering late night lyricism of Leonard Cohen through a truly modern lens, Cj is an anomaly and authentic to his core.
My name is Matthew Bailey. I’m a Toronto-based musician and producer
who has released original music under the band names The Long Haul, Staycation, Playdate, The Psychological Rangers, ES+MB as well as albums under my own name.
While my new song, “Full-Time Hobby,” is from the perspective of a musician singing to other musicians I feel like the hopeful message is applicable to most people’s lives. It’s about building yourself back up when you’re feeling low and guarding what’s important in your life. I am trying to elicit a feeling of hope and resilience from my listeners.
There’s beauty in searching, Searching for something,
A sound in your mind, A feeling worth trusting
Brazilian-American artist Talkless takes us on a mental spiral with his new alternative rock anthem “Talking To Myself,” out today via Uncomfortable Records. Bred with sounds inspired by early 80s and 00s grunge, the track showers listeners with jangly guitar riffs and a distorted, yet smooth chorus that echoes the pitfalls of overthinking and the struggle in putting on a front for others. “Talking To Myself” is also accompanied by a VHS home-movie styled lyric video.
Australian polymath Meg Mac reveals spellbinding new single ‘Letter’, a gorgeous melodic pop offering showcasing Meg Mac’s beautiful vocals atop a pensive piano led arrangement, produced by Dylan Nash (Dean Lewis). Building to a swelling chorus, the track serves as a wondrous testament to the soul-stirring talents that have seen Meg Mac develop a passionate fan base over the better part of the last decade.
Listen to ‘Letter’ HERE
Alongside the release of the single comes long-awaited news that the Sydney artist will be releasing a new album, ‘Matter of Time’, on September 16th.
Meg Mac ‘Matter of Time’
01. Is It Worth Being Sad
02. Only Love
03. Understand
04. Something in the Water
05. Letter
06. On Your Mind
07. Matter of Time
08. Don’t You Cry
09. Lifesaver
10. Head on the Pillow
Having recorded and primed a previous ‘third album’ for imminent release in 2020, Mac had what she now describes as “a bit of a meltdown” with personal and professional doubts coming to a head. She scrapped the body of work two weeks before launch and moved to a remote village in the NSW countryside. “I wanted to just start again and do everything without compromise,” begins Meg Mac of the game-changing personal switch-up that led to the Sydney-born singer’s incoming third album.
‘Matter of Time’ came into being across 2020 and 2021 and is a document of an artistic rebirth of sorts, fleshed out by her most fully-realised sonic and visual palette yet.
ACER is a dream pop duo made up of multi-instrumentalist Kyle Gottschalk & vocalist/art director Connory Ballantyne. Borrowing from the brooding post-punk sound of their former band House Art, Ballantyne’s vocals lend a confident and lyrical vision to the dynamically maximalist instrumentals written out of Gottschalk’s love for bedroom-pop & shoegaze.
Starting in 2019- and writing together during the past year of lockdown as housemates- the duo is set to debut their first mini-album in 2021- the 6 track self titled “ACER” – a youthful, hungry record showcasing the musical diversity & raw energy of the two producers.
Dreamy atmospheres abound (a nod to Beach House, Daniel Lanois, or Eno), the tracks sputter & glitch to life reminiscent of bedroom producers like JPEGMAFIA or the recent work of Toro Y Moi, and Ballantyne’s vocals constantly flirt between the swaggering bravado of artists like Archie Marshal’s King Krule, the effect-laden Justin Vernon or Kanye, and the soft ambience of Slowdive.
Dundee five-piece – PLASMAS – return with a reverb-washed, retro-preened new single “See It Through”.
Blending gauzy guitars with woozy pop vocals and glittering like a sudden beam of sunlight on a dreary day, “See It Through” is the first glimpse of new music from PLASMAS in 2022 and arrives as an alluring and infectious track well-worthy of a late-night summer singalong.
With tight yet airy production, glistening layers of instrumentals and soaring hooks that tread the line between ‘90s pop and ‘00s shoegaze-flecked indie rock, “See It Through” is optimistic and reflective in equal measure; dreamily nostalgic yet reinforcing PLASMAS’ breezy upward trajectory.
Of the scintillating new single, lead vocalist Ross McQueen explains:
“I wrote this one in summer last year, on a belter of a summer’s day where I probably should’ve been outside but instead was sat in my room hopelessly writing.
I had become obsessed with the idea of writing a song that could be the soundtrack for a ‘90s American sit-com, or a coming-of-age film. Something like “Crash” by The Primitives or “99 Red Balloons”. Something cheesy andtongue-in-cheek but laced with just enough charm and self-awareness to get away with it. After many failed attempts and at the point of giving up, with a spirit of almost being past caring came the opening guitar melody and everything followed seamlessly after that.”
Guyville is a Los Angeles based duo composed of its founding members, Kat Hamilton and Emily Hulslander. The pair craft songs that combine elements of 90s rock, pop and Americana. As their name suggests, the legacy of Liz Phair brought these two powerful women together in songwriting bliss. The duo strikes the perfect chord with Hulslander’s intelligent pop approach and Hamilton’s confessional lyricism.
Guyville was formed during your usual Los Angeles writing session in the Valley. What was unusual was the easy flow and chemistry between the two prolific writers. Within a few hours, the duo had written their first song “Should’ve Never Dated”. Emily Hulslander had already made a strong name for herself in LA songwriting circles, but was struggling to find another writer who she could relax into the process with. Kat Hamilton was newer to LA, but felt unfulfilled as a writer. On that pivotal day, Emily and Kat found common ground in their failed relationships, artistic journeys and the women of the 90s.
This connection is highlighted in their debut Guyville single, “Nothing”. The end of summer jam combines elements of indie rock and 90s girl anthems with a sprinkle of Shania Twain. “Nothing” celebrates the wonderful post- breakup feeling of absolutely nothing for your ex. In the music video, Hamilton and Hulslander frolic in rose gardens and dance along sandy beaches. The result is a bubbly, tongue in cheek ode to getting over it and moving on.
With their track “Should Have Never Dated” Guyville crafts a highly infectious 90’s inspired indie rock song all about the regret of entering into certain romantic relationships especially those with other musical partners and collaborators. Mixing work with pleasure does not always end well and Guyville explores this in the magnetic “Should Have Never Dated”.
In “Boys + Girls W Guitars”, the duo were inspired to create a song about “constantly repeating the habit of sleeping with musicians just because they’re talented,” confides Kat. She further shares, “I think it’s easy in the music world to confuse admiration with attraction.” The song showcases witty lyrics, charming melodies and gritty pop rock soundscapes for an intriguing sonic journey.
Email: neill@outloudculture.com
